Defenseman Nikita Zadorov scores twice, West-leading Canucks beat Canadiens 4-1

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Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith makes a save against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29) stops Montreal Canadiens’ Josh Anderson (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Nikita Zadorov celebrates his first goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Canadiens’ Arber Xhekaj, left, checks Vancouver Canucks’ Sam Lafferty during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Conor Garland (8) catches the glove of J.T. Miller (9) in the face as he skates past the bench to celebrate his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Canadiens’ Montreal Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki (14) misses the puck as he stands at the open net behind Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith (29), while Noah Juulsen, right, watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Carson Soucy, Tyler Myers, Conor Garland, Vasily Podkolzin and Teddy Blueger, from left, celebrate Garland’s goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky, center, redirects the puck past Vancouver Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith, left, for a goal as Quinn Hughes watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Newhook, right, and Vancouver Canucks’ Noah Juulsen vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Nikita Zadorov, right, turns to skate to the bench after celebrating his goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Canucks’ Nils Hoglander (21) and Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Evans (71) vie for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, March 21, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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The puck hits the post and stays out of the net behind Montreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault, left, as Vancouver Canucks’ Pius Suter (24) and Montreal’s Rafael Harvey-Pinard (49) watch during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Defenseman Nikita Zadorov scored twice in the first period, Casey DeSmith made 16 saves and the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks beat the struggling Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Thursday night.

Conor Garland and Nils Aman also scored and Ilya Mikheyev had two assists. Vancouver improved to 44-18-8, good for a three-point margin over Winnipeg, Colorado and Dallas.

“Obviously, they got one back late in the second and I don’t think we broke, I think we had our confidence,” Zadorov said. “It’s a young team. We’re learning still. There’s still time to learn before playoffs and I think we’ve been doing a good job.”

Juraj Slafkovsky scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault stopped 21 shots. The Canadiens have lost four in a row to fall to 25-32-12.

“We didn’t get a lot of sustained offensive-zone shifts,” Montreal assistant coach Trevor Letowski said. “We got a couple of decent looks from the interior but not nearly enough to score goals and win. It was just a game where we didn’t have a lot of answers offensively, but our guys played hard, we competed, but just couldn’t generate enough.”

The Canucks smothered the Canadiens in the final period, allowing just three shots.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point, left, scores a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe (60) collides with Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom (40) after a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29), Zach Hyman (18), Evan Bouchard (2) and Mattias Ekholm (14) celebrate after a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during second-period NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday March 21, 2024. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)

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“We didn’t give them much. That’s a fast team, they’re an up-and-coming team,” Canucks coach Riok Tocchet said. “I thought our third and fourth line did a nice job. Obviously, Nikita Zadorov getting a couple big goals for us. But I don’t think we gave them much of the high dangers.”

Zadorov opened the scoring with 4:22 left in the first period with a long shot over Montembeault’s glove as Sam Lafferty and Montreal defenseman David Savard battled for space directly in front of the net.

Vancouver made it 2-0 with 27 seconds left in the first off an odd-man rush. Lafferty sliced a crisp pass to Zadorov in the high slot and the hulking defenseman fired a shot that beat Montembeault to the blocker side.

Garland made it 3-0 with 2:46 left in the second, and Slafkovsky countered for Montreal with 53 seconds left in the period

Aman scored his first goal in 24 games midway through the third, deflecting in Tyler Myers’ shot. The Swedish center last scored Dec. 23.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: At Seattle on Sunday night.

Canucks: Host Calgary on Saturday night.

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